And then there was one.
Since Donald Trump assumed office almost two years ago, U.S. allies in Europe, Asia and beyond have counted on a number of so-called adults in the room to constrain an unpredictable president. With the imminent departure of White House chief of staff John Kelly, only Defense Secretary Jim Mattis remains.
As Trump assembled his first Cabinet, allies took comfort that the group — including retired or serving generals — would help preserve the fundamentals of U.S. foreign and economic policy that have largely endured for decades. The expectation was they would guide, and even restrain, the new commander-in-chief of the world's most powerful military.